Bangladesh condemned a spirited Afghanistan to a 105-run defeat in their debut World Cup match at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.
Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim struck half-centuries as the Tigers were dismissed for 267 from the final ball of their 50 overs after opting to make first use.
Afghanistan’s chase was in tatters at three for three in the third over and, although their middle order provided a little resistance, they only managed 162.
Shakib and Mushfiqur came to Bangladesh’s rescue after their top-four batsmen all failed to kick on from slow starts, Mirwais Ashraf and Shapoor Zadran both taking two wickets to reduce the Tigers to 119 for four in the 30th over.
The pair gave the innings impetus by adding 114 in just 15.3 overs to lift the Tigers towards a commanding total.
Shakib and Mushfiqur took 48 runs off the batting powerplay, the latter reaching a half-century off 40 balls, three fewer than it took Shakib to reach the milestone.
Afghanistan’s bowlers suffered as a result of the attacking partnership but, after Shakib departed to Hamid Hassan for 63 off 51 balls, they responded as Bangladesh lost their last six wickets for just 34 runs.
Hassan then bowled Sabbir Rahman before Mushfiqur, who like Shakib hit six fours and a maximum, holed out to deep midwicket for a 56-ball 71.
After Mominul Haque was run out, Aftab Alam cleaned up the tail to give Afghanistan, coached by Englishman Andy Moles, some momentum heading into their chase.
But their hopes of marking their World Cup bow with victory suffered a huge blow when Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza took two of the three early wickets to fall.
They did offer some resistance, though, Nawroz Mangal and Samiullah Shenwari, who was earlier taken out of the attack after seven balls for running on the danger area, adding 62 before a 58-run sixth-wicket stand between Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran.
But rebuilding the innings led to the run-rate rising and that pressure showed in the manner of several dismissals, including Mangal holing out to deep midwicket and Shenwari failing to make his ground running a second.
Bangladesh soon wrapped up victory, with Shakib adding two scalps to his half-century and Mortaza completing fine figures of 3-20.
3 - Bangladesh have secured their third highest run-margin ODI victory (105 runs) away from home. Statement. #CWC15@BCBtigers
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) February 18, 2015